Guide channel structure

ABSTRACT

In a guide channel structure, for instance for an energy transmission chain, designed for fastening on a substructure which, as on a crane with pivotable jib, for example, displays a stationary section and a section pivotable about a first axis of rotation ( 8 ), a stationary structural element ( 6 ) for fastening on the stationary section of the substructure and a movable structural element ( 7 ) for fastening on the pivotable section of the substructure are provided, as well as an intermediate structural element ( 9 ) located between the two structural elements ( 6, 7 ), which is connected to the movable structural element ( 7 ) in a manner permitting pivoting about a second axis of rotation ( 10 ), where the parts are coupled by a control device in such a way that, when pivoting the substructure, the movable structural element ( 7 ) and the intermediate structural element ( 9 ) move past each other.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a guide channel structure which can be fastenedto a substructure, with a guide channel composed of long, parallel sideelements, between which an object can be laid and moved.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Guide channel structures of this kind are particularly used for layingand guiding energy transmission chains, which are used to accommodateflexible supply lines for electricity, gases, liquids and the like andlead these from a stationary source to a movable energy consumer. Theyare particularly used where the energy transmission chains have longtravel paths, e.g. in materials handling, crane installations and othermachines where an energy consumer travels long distances.

During the travel motion of the consumer, the energy transmissionchains, which are flexible in at least one direction, are subjected toan unrolling and rerolling motion in the guide channels via a drivingdevice located on the movable energy consumer. In this context, duringthe rerolling motion when travelling over long paths, the upper sectionof the energy transmission chain, known as the upper strand, moves insliding fashion on the lower section, known as the lower strand, lyingin the guide channel. If the fixed connecting element of the energytransmission chain is mounted in the middle of the travel path in theguide channel, the upper strand slides on the lower strand over one halfof the travel path. In order to ensure low-friction running of theenergy transmission chain, continuing at the same height over the otherhalf of the travel path, the guide channels are provided with a slidingdevice in the corresponding area, this being located on the inner wallsof the side elements, so that the upper strand can be moved on thesliding device.

Flexible energy pipes can also be guided on the sliding device insteadof energy transmission chains.

Guide channel structures of the kind mentioned at the start are alsosuitable for laying and moving other objects subjected to slidingguidance with lateral restriction, e.g. sliding carriages, transportedgoods and transport containers.

Hitherto known guide channel structures are fastened to the substructurein stationary fashion. To this end, the guide channel is fixed on thesubstructure, e.g. a base plate, either directly or using mountingbrackets (DE 297 06 670 U1).

However, there are fields of application for energy transmission chainsand other objects permitting sliding movement where linear guidance in achannel is desirable, but where some sections of the channel and itssubstructure must permit opening and reclosing for certain purposes.This is necessary, for example, in the case of bridges on which anenergy consumer can be moved and which must be opened to allow thepassage of an object moving in the direction transverse to the bridge.Particularly in the case of harbour cranes with relatively long jibs, onwhich a crab travels back and forth and which must be swung up in orderto allow the passage of a ship, it is desirable to guide the supplylines leading to the crab through an energy transmission chain slidingin a channel structure. In this case, the substructure consists of astationary section and a pivotable section running along the jib.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The task of the present invention is to create a guide channel structurewhich is suitable for sections of the substructure which can be pivotedrelative to one another.

According to the invention, this task is solved in that the guidechannel structure consists of a stationary structural element forfastening on a stationary section of the substructure, a movablestructural element for fastening on a section of the substructure whichcan be pivoted about a first axis of rotation in relation to thestationary section, and an intermediate structural element locatedbetween the stationary structural element and the movable structuralelement, which is connected to the movable structural element in amanner permitting pivoting about a second axis of rotation parallel tothe first axis of rotation, where the stationary, movable andintermediate structural elements each display channel sections whoseface ends lie flush against each other on the inner sides of the sideelements when the substructure is not pivoted, the second axis ofrotation for the intermediate structural element is located on the sideof the guide channel pointing in the direction of pivoting and,depending on the position of the first axis of rotation for thepivotable section of the substructure, the opposite face ends of thechannel sections of the movable structural element and of theintermediate structural element are located at an angle in the directionof pivoting and the pivoting motion of the intermediate structuralelement is coupled to the movement of the pivotable section of thesubstructure and of the movable structural element by means of a controldevice in such a way that, when pivoting this section of thesubstructure, the movable structural element and the intermediatestructural element move past each other.

The control device preferably displays a mechanical coupling. This makesit possible to achieve particularly simple coupling of the intermediatestructural element to the movement of the pivotable section of thesubstructure or of the movable structural element, without requiring aseparate drive for the pivoting movement of the intermediate structuralelement. There is no need for a more extensive control device.

However, other types of coupling are also open to consideration where,for example, the intermediate structural element is driven electricallyor hydraulically as a simultaneous function of the movement or the driveof the pivotable section of the substructure. This solution includescontrol devices suitable for this purpose.

In a customary application, e.g. in crane installations, the first axisof rotation for the pivotable section of the substructure (e.g. the jib)and the second axis of rotation for the intermediate structural elementare positioned horizontal to the substructure. The pivotable section ofthe substructure (jib) is then pivoted vertically. If upward pivotingtakes place, the second axis of rotation is located on the upper side ofthe guide channel or above it; in the case of downward pivoting, thesecond axis of rotation must be provided on the underside of the guidechannel or below it. In addition, lateral pivoting of the substructureand the guide channel is open to consideration, in which case the secondaxis of rotation is located on one of the two sides of the guide channelor outside the guide channel.

If a mechanical coupling is used, it preferably displays a lever armlocated on the intermediate structural element and a thrust elementwhich is articulated to the movable structural element and acts on thelever arm in articulated fashion. When the substructure is pivoted, themovable structural element attached to it acts via the thrust elementand the lever arm, exerting a torque on the intermediate structuralelement in the corresponding direction. Depending on the location of thefirst axis of rotation in relation to the guide channel structure, thegeometry of the intermediate structural element must be dimensioned, andthe opposite face ends of the channel sections of the movable structuralelement and the intermediate structural element arranged at an angle inthe longitudinal direction, in such a way that the movable structuralelement and the intermediate structural element move over one anotherwhen the substructure is pivoted.

In an advantageous configuration of the mechanical coupling, the leverarm is located in the region of the end of the intermediate structuralelement opposite the movable structural element and essentially extendsvertically upwards from this point, where the thrust element extendsfrom a pivot point located on or above the upper side of the movablestructural element to a pivot point located at the free end of the leverarm and runs laterally outside the intermediate structural element andthe lever arm.

Particularly good force conditions are achieved by having a ratio ofbetween 0.3 and 0.45 between the height of the lever arm and thedistance between the pivot point of the thrust element on the movablestructural element and the foot of the lever arm.

The stationary, movable and intermediate structural elements expedientlyhave a self-supporting frame for the channel sections located thereinwhich absorbs the forces for pivoting the intermediate structuralelement. As a result of this frame, the forces in question act only onthe intermediate structural element and on the adjacent movable andstationary structural elements of the guide channel structure. The partsof the guide channel structure lying beyond these structural elementsare not stressed by these forces.

In a preferred configuration, the two ends of the frame are fastened tothe substructure, forming interfaces to the adjacent parts of the guidechannel structure where it continues on the stationary and pivotablesections of the substructure, these parts of the guide channel structurenot being exposed to the forces occurring during pivoting of theintermediate structural element. The stationary, movable andintermediate structural elements interconnected via the second axis ofrotation and the coupling thus form an independent structural unit whichcan be located between ordinary guide channel sections at theappropriate point in a pivotable substructure. The structural unit canbe completely assembled by the manufacturer and fastened to thesubstructure on-site without requiring any additional assembly work.

A device for precise, flush alignment of the ends of the relevantchannel sections is preferably provided at the opposite face ends of themovable and intermediate structural elements. This device ensures thatthe ends of the channel sections are precisely aligned with each other,even after a large number of movement cycles, so that the inner sides ofthe guide channel, in particular, display no irregularities at thesepoints which could in the long term lead to greater abrasion and todamage of the objects laid and movable therein.

This device can, for example, display a guide groove provided on theside of one structural element, running in its direction of pivoting andextending over this side, and a centring element located on the otherstructural element which essentially engages this groove over its entirelength when the elements are moved in relation to each other. Owing tothe fact that the centring element engages the full length of the guidegroove extending over the entire corresponding side when the movablestructural element and the intermediate structural element are moved,optimum lateral stability is achieved in the event of lateral forces,e.g. strong winds or other horizontal stresses.

Furthermore, lateral overlapping elements can be provided on theopposite ends of the stationary, movable and intermediate structuralelements, in order to close any gaps between the structural elements.

Finally, the end of the intermediate structural element opposite to thestationary structural element can be provided with a flap which closesoff the channel section of the stationary structural element when theintermediate structural element is pivoted up. This prevents the ingressof foreign bodies into the cavity of the stationary guide channel whenpivoting the substructure and the channel sections coupled to it.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A practical example of the invention is described in more detail belowon the basis of the drawings. The drawings show the following:

FIG. 1 A side view of the practical example in the closed state,

FIG. 2 A side view as per FIG. 1 in the opened state,

FIG. 3 A view of the opposite side of the practical example,

FIG. 4 A side view as per FIG. 3 in the opened state, and

FIG. 5 A face-end view in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The practical example described below and illustrated in the drawings isa guide channel structure for laying and moving an energy transmissionchain 1.

The guide channel structure comprises guide channel 2 with long,parallel side elements 3 and 4, between which energy transmission chain1 can be laid and moved on sliding rails 5.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, for example, the guide channel structureconsists of a stationary structural element 6 for fastening to astationary section of a substructure (not shown in the drawing), e.g. acrane installation, a movable structural element 7 for fastening to asection of the substructure pivotable in relation to the stationarysection about a first axis of rotation 8, and an intermediate structuralelement 9, located between stationary structural element 6 and movablestructural element 7, which is connected to movable structural element 7in pivoting fashion about a second axis of rotation 10, parallel to thefirst axis of rotation 8. The stationary structural element 6, themovable structural element 7 and the intermediate structural element 9each display channel sections 11, 12 and 13, respectively, the face endsof which lie flush against each other on the inner sides of sideelements 3 and 4 when the substructure is in the non-pivoted stateillustrated in FIG. 1.

In a crane installation with an upward-pivoting jib forming thepivotable section of the substructure, the first axis of rotation 8 islocated horizontally. The second axis of rotation 10 for intermediatestructural element 9 is located on the side of the guide channel facingin the direction of pivoting, i.e. on the upper side of the guidechannel.

As illustrated in detail in FIGS. 1 to 4, depending on the location ofthe first axis of rotation 8 of the substructure in relation to theguide channel structure, intermediate structural element 9 isdimensioned in such a way, and the opposite sides of channel sections 13and 12 of movable structural element 7 and of intermediate structuralelement 9 are located at an angle in the longitudinal direction, in sucha way that, on the basis of a mechanical coupling between these twostructural elements 7 and 9, described below, these two structuralelements 7 and 9 move over each other when pivoting the substructure.

To this end, the mechanical coupling displays lever arms 14 and 15located on both sides of intermediate structural element 9, and thrustelements 16 and 17 on both sides in the form of rods which arearticulated to movable structural element 7 and act on lever arms 14 and15 in articulated fashion. Lever arms 14 and 15 are located in theregion of the end of intermediate structural element 9 opposite movablestructural element 7 and essentially extend vertically upwards from thispoint, where thrust elements 16 and 17 extend from a pivot point 18located on the upper side of movable structural element 7 to a pivotpoint 19 located at the free end of lever arms 14 and 15 and runlaterally outside intermediate structural element 9 and lever arms 14and 15.

When the substructure (not shown in the drawing) is pivoted about thefirst axis of rotation 8, movable structural element 7 attached to itacts via thrust elements 16 and 17 and lever arms 14 and 15, exerting atorque on intermediate structural element 9, which is consequentlypivoted upwards over movable structural element 7, as illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 4. A particularly favourable torque is obtained if the ratiobetween the height of the lever arm and the distance between pivot point18 and the foot of lever arm 14 or 15 is approx. 0.4.

Structural elements 6, 7 and 9 of the guide channel structure each havea self-supporting frame 20, 21 and 22, respectively, for channelsections 11, 12 and 13, respectively, located therein which absorbs theforces for pivoting intermediate structural element 9. Frame 20 forstationary structural element 6 is firmly connected to the stationarysection of the substructure (not shown in the drawing) via a vertical,tubular frame element 23. On the other side, frame 22 of movablestructural element 7 is likewise fastened to the pivotable section ofthe substructure via a vertical, tubular frame element 24. Structuralelements 6, 7 and 9, which are interconnected via the second axis ofrotation 10 and the mechanical coupling, thus form an independentstructural unit which can be completely assembled by the manufacturerand installed on-site on the given substructure, e.g. a craneinstallation with pivotable jib.

As can be seen in particular from FIG. 5 in conjunction with FIG. 2,frame elements 23 and 24 are located on the side of the guide channelstructure which faces away from a driving device 25 of energytransmission chain 1, which is mounted on the movable energy consumer.

As is also indicated in the drawings, the opposite face ends of movablestructural element 7 and intermediate structural element 9 are providedwith a device for precise, flush alignment of the ends of the associatedchannel sections 12 and 13.

On the side of the guide channel structure facing away from drivingdevice 25 of energy transmission chain 1, this device has two guidestrips 26 and 27 on movable structural element 7, which extend over theentire height of the corresponding structural element 7 and form a guidegroove 28 laying between them, as can be seen in FIG. 5, in particular.

The lower area of the corresponding side of the opposite intermediatestructural element 9 is provided with a plateshaped centring element 29(FIGS. 2 and 5), which engages guide groove 28 over its entire lengthwhen movable and intermediate structural elements 7 and 9 are moved.When pivoting back the two structural elements 7 and 9, centring element29 acts as a guide locator when entering guide groove 28, then slidingfurther in the guide groove up to the position illustrated in FIG. 1 asthe return pivoting motion continues.

Located above centring element 29 on the corresponding side ofintermediate structural element 9 is a guide spring 30, extending overthe remaining length of the side, which likewise engages guide groove28. Guide spring 30 forms an overlap on the corresponding side forclosing the lateral gap between structural elements 7 and 9.

Additionally provided on the upper side of the intermediate structuralelement above guide spring 30 is an overlapping plate 31, which closesoff the upper side of the corresponding connection point between the twostructural elements 7 and 9.

Trapezoidal protective covers 32 and 33, forming a downward-pointing gapto allow passage of driving device 25, are provided on intermediatestructural element 9 on the other side of the guide chain structure onwhich, as shown in FIG. 5, driving device 25 of energy transmissionchain 1 engages guide channel 2.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, flank guides 34 and 35 are provided at bothends of intermediate structural element 9, which spread slightlyoutwards and the outer sides of which make contact at the ends ofchannel sections 11 and 13 of stationary and movable structural elements6 and 7. Flank guides 34 and 35 are intended for precise, flushinsertion of structural elements 6, 7 and 9 in the final phase of returnpivoting.

A flap 36 is located on the upper side of intermediate structuralsection 9 on the end opposite to stationary structural element 6, saidflap 36 running horizontally when the guide channel structure is in thenon-pivoted state illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, and sealing off channelsection 11 of stationary structural element 6 in the upward-pivotedstate of the guide channel structure illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4.

GUIDE CHANNEL STRUCTURE List of Reference Numbers

1 Energy transmission chain

2 Guide channel

3 Side element

4 Side element

5 Sliding rail

6 Stationary structural element

7 Movable structural element

8 First axis of rotation

9 Intermediate structural element

10 Second axis of rotation

11 Channel section

12 Channel section

13 Channel section

14 Lever arm

15 Lever arm

16 Thrust element

17 Thrust element

18 Pivot point

19 Pivot point

20 Frame

21 Frame

22 Frame

23 Frame element

24 Frame element

25 Driving device

26 Guide strip

27 Guide strip

28 Guide groove

29 Centring element

30 Guide spring

31 Overlapping plate

32 Protective cover

33 Protective cover

34 Flank guide

35 Flank guide

36 Flap

What is claimed is:
 1. A guide channel structure which can be fastenedto a substructure, with a guide channel composed of long, parallel sideelements having inner sides, between which a flexible object can be laidand moved, the guide channel structure comprising: a stationarystructural element for fastening on a stationary section of thesubstructure, a movable structural element for fastening on a pivotablesection of the substructure for pivot about a first axis of rotation inrelation to the stationary section, and an intermediate structuralelement located between the stationary structural element and themovable structural element, which is connected to the movable structuralelement in a manner permitting pivoting about a second axis of rotationparallel to the first axis of rotation, where the stationary, movableand intermediate structural elements each display channel sections whoseface ends lie in flush contact against each other on the inner sides ofthe side elements when the substructure is in a non-pivoted position,the pivot of the intermediate structural element coupled to the pivot ofthe movable structural element by a control device, the second axis ofrotation for the intermediate structural element is located on a side ofthe guide channel to which the intermediate structural element ispivoted from the non-pivoted position, each of the channel section faceends of the intermediate and movable structural elements that contacteach other is oriented at an angle with respect to the longitudinaldirection of the respective structural element such that the movablestructural element and the intermediate structural element move past,each other when the substructure is pivoted from the non-pivotedposition.
 2. A guide channel structure according to claim 1, wherein thecontrol device displays a mechanical coupling.
 3. A guide channelstructure according to claim 2, wherein the first and second axes ofrotation are pitioned horizontal to the substructure.
 4. A guide channelstructure according to claim 2, wherein the mechanical coupling displaysa lever arm located on the intermediate structural element and a thrustelement which is articulated to the movable structural element and actson the lever arm in articulated fashion.
 5. A guide structure accordingto claim 3 wherein the lever arm is located in the region of the end ofthe intermediate structural element opposite the movable structuralelement and essentially extends vertically upwards from this point, andthe thrust element extends from a pivot point located on or above theupper side of the movable structural element to a pivot point located atthe free end of the lever arm where the thrust element runs laterallyoutside the intermediate structural element and the lever arm.
 6. Aguide channel structure according to claim 5, wherein the ratio betweenthe length of the lever arm and the distance between the pivot point andthe thrust element on the movable structural element and the foot of thelever arm is between 0.3 and 0.45.
 7. A guide structure according toclaim 1 wherein the stationary, movable and intermediate structuralelements have a self-supporting frame for the channel sections locatedtherein which absorbs the forces for pivoting the intermediatestructural element.
 8. A guide channel structure according to claim 7,wherein the two ends of the frame are fastened to the substructure andform interfaces to the adjacent guide channel sections located on thestationary and pivotable sections of the substructure.
 9. A guidechannel structure according to claim 1 further comprising a guide devicefor precise, flush alignment of the ends of the relevant channelsections, the guide device provided at the opposite face ends of themovable and intermediate structural elements.
 10. A guide channelstructure according to claim 9, wherein the guide device displays aguide groove provided on the side of one structural element, running inits direction of pivoting and extending over the side, and a centeringelement located on the other structural element, which engages the guidegroove over its entire length when the elements are moved in relation toeach other.
 11. A guide structure according to claim 1 wherein lateraloverlapping elements are provided on the opposite ends of thestationary, movable and intermediate structural elements in order toclose any gaps between the structural elements.
 12. A guide structureaccording to claim 1 wherein the end of the intermediate structuralelement opposite to the stationary structural element is provided with aflap which closes off the channel section of the stationary structuralelement when the intermediate structural element is pivoted up.